The FCC could do more to block pesky robocalls

Consumers received 2.4 billion in unwanted telemarketing and robocalls calls in 2016. It’s the biggest consumer gripe filed with the FCC, which receives 200,000 complaints annually about them. The FCC’s new rules allows providers to block calls coming from invalid numbers, unallocated numbers, and numbers whose owners have requested they be blocked. But advocates urge the FCC to do more to reduce the scam calls.

Nearly 15 billion robocalls were made in the U.S. during the first half of 2017, according to YouMail, a provider of anti-robocall services. If the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) new rules dealing with robocalls are adopted, providers would be allowed to block calls coming from a host of pesky robocall sources, which is a great start. Consumer Action joined coalition members in urging the FCC to do more, like encouraging telecom providers to use advanced analytics, to identify and block clearly illegal robocalls and to offer effective and free call-blocking tools to all of their customers to help block legal but unwanted robocalls.

Lead Organization

Consumers Union

Other Organizations

Consumers Union | Consumer Action | Consumer Federation of America | National Association of Consumer Advocates | National Consumer Law Center on behalf of its low- income clients | Public Citizen | Public Knowledge